UEFA Champions League 20/2/2008 - Fenerbahce vs Sevilla

Sevilla has continued to scrap through most of their season despite having their manager Juande Ramos leave for Tottenham Hotspur, and tonight in this live commentary and play by play soccer match in the UEFA Champions League between Fenerbahce and Sevilla, they will try to aim for more of the same. In general, they continue to do well, although not challenging much on any front, but having done so much to get this far in the competition, Sevilla will do their best not to throw their chances away. However, they face a tough away game in the heat of Turkey with Fenerbahce a tough side to break down at home, as with any Turkish teams, and their fans well known for making their stadium a living hell for any visiting opposition. Just ask other teams who have broken down in the heat of the moment and incredibly lost to Turkish teams when they shouldn't have. Not that Turkish teams aren't no good, but some of these teams which have lost were obviously better. On paper.

Frederic Kanoute the star striker of Sevilla before he leaves for Spurs at the end of the season, aim to leave his mark on the club and becoming a legend, by scoring the goals to bring his club through in this live commentary and radio broadcast UEFA Champions League soccer match between Fenerbahce and Sevilla. However, this is the first season he is playing in this competition, and although top scoring as usual for Sevilla with 4 goals, he has not displayed his red hot league form on this stage as yet. Fans certainly expect more from him and he should not disappoint, but probably only in the return leg at home. It is a hard match to call again but the home ground advantage of Fenerbahce in this live commentary, live streaming and TV telecast soccer match in the UEFA Champions League last 16 should see them have a slight advantage over Sevilla and perhaps cause a minor upset, although with the attacking flair of the Spanish side, anything can happen.

UEFA Cup 13/2/2008 - Slavia Prague vs Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur's recent revival will continue to be under scrutiny and the spotlight in this live commentary and radio broadcast UEFA Cup soccer match against Slavia Prague. Slavia Prague should provide stiff opposition and a different type of team that Tottenham Hotspur are used to facing in the English Premier League, but one thing in favour of Spurs would be their manager Juande Ramos, who has shown with Sevilla that he is a class act in Europe by steering them to successive UEFA Cup triumphs in recent seasons. In fact, Juande Ramos has solidified his reputation by turning Tottenham's season around and leading them to the Carling Cup final while in recent games have shown better defensive solidarity at the back while continuing to flourish in attack, with Berbatov especially impressing and displaying his importance to the team.

Despite this, Tottenham Hotspur should not get too ahead of themselves and must be wary of their opponents Slavia Prague in this UEFA Cup live commentary and TV telecast soccer game. It is certain that Juande Ramos will not abandon his strategy of playing attacking football to win games but he is certainly smarter and a better manager than Kevin Keegan and builds from a sound defence before unleashing his forward line on opponents. You can be sure he would demand that Spurs go for a win and not concede any goals. In fact, Juande Ramos might be the next big thing after Alex Ferguson, although he has shown a penchant for looking to sign players from his old club Sevilla. If he can guide Tottenham Hotspur to an impressive win against Slavia Prague in this live commentary and radio broadcast soccer game in the UEFA Cup, then you never know, Manchester United might actually try to snap him up as their manager to replace Alex Ferguson in the near future, instead of Carlos Queiroz who had already failed spectacularly at Real Madrid.

Spanish Primera Liga - Sevilla vs Barcelona Match Highlights

While my editorial team works on the match highlights for this match of the week in the Spanish Primera Liga between Sevilla and Barcelona, I just want to report on how the game went first. After a result which could mean the end of Barcelona's title challenge, Barcelona was unlucky not to have snatched maximum points at the end of the game. Despite going a goal behind in the first half when Sevilla's impressive Capel scored from a narrow angle, Barcelona managed to equalise through Xabi off a defence splitting pass from Messi. Soon after, Keita was sent off by the referee and Sevilla struggled to hold off Barcelona's marauding forwards, although they could have snatched it themselves at the death off a fine run from Capel. Unfortunately the shot went narrowly wide. All in all, despite getting a deserved draw, it was not enough for Barcelona to close too much of the gap between them and Real Madrid and it could see Real Madrid pulling further away after their game on Sunday.

Odds For Spurs To Join Bolton In English League Championship in 2008?

We all know how it will still end for Bolton come May 2008 (or earlier). Gary Megson is not EPL managerial material, no matter how much his new chairman Phil Gartside is going to fund his little new adventure. Who was the last good player he bought? I have my fullest sympathies with Bolton fans who must have woken up to another new nightmare last Friday.

What of Spurs and their new bright hope Juande Ramos? Can the Spanish head honcho turn the club's fortunes around now and bring success that his new chairman Daniel Levy so craves? Or will he be the subject of humiliation come the end of the season ala Martin Jol?

We all know the real reason why Jol was cut from the Lane - he failed to deliver Champions League football and more importantly, any trophies. Levy's treatment of the big man was certainly uncondonable, but if you have spent your own fortunes without any results, you are certainly entitled to some discretion in how you wish to handle club matters.

Ramos arrives at Spurs on the back on an impressive CV with Sevilla. But will he be given enough time to arrest the slide currently at the club before putting his own spin for future improvement and success? How long will Levy wait this time?

Both men also have strong personalities, with Ramos constantly embroiled in feuds with his ex-Sevilla boss, and Levy not shy of heavy-handed tactics to bring his point across. I rub my hands in eager anticipation for the first flash point these two men will have.

And given the mediocre squad that Ramos stands to inherit, it will take more investment from his chairman to fix any imbalance the team currently faces. Granted many of the players are suffering from distinct lack of confidence, but that midfield is not top 4 quality. Berbatov is developing into another Thierry Henry and his head continues to swell. To have publicly rebelled against his under-pressure ex-manager was about as unprofessional as a player could get, given the situation the club was in. Nobody should be bigger than the club, and if Berbatov felt his interests better served at Manchester United, it would be well-advised to release him come January.

Ledley King continues to face time on the sidelines, but the defence urgently require him back. It would be interesting to see if Ramos would pry Daniel Alves away from Sevilla, but the player excels more as an attacking quantity. What Spurs needs now are stabilising influences in all areas of the field.

Ramos will need some time, but it might not be something that he will have in abundance. The season might still be young, but continental managers, especially someone still unproven as Ramos, often need time to settle in. Just like players. Can anyone remember what happened at Portsmouth and to a certain extent, Rangers in Scotland last season?

The Secret Revival Of The Young Gunners?

Having stormed their way to the top of the English Premier League the past weekend, Arsenal now look forward to doing the same on the European front. Sevilla stand in their way at Highbury, and look ripe for the kill after difficult times.

Or are they?

Since getting bamboozled by AC Milan in the European Super Cup (let's face it, they were not in the best mental state to deal with the game), Sevilla have gone quietly back to business. They were mighty impressive this past weekend in demolishing Recreativo, and this is a real team with no stars trying to get attention (cue Real Madrid or Barcelona).

Arsenal's young wanna-bes have done well, and even the normally jaded Soccer Rag was slightly impressed with the systematic destruction of another London team. But let's face it - it was Tottenham afterall. It won't be soon before BurgerMan gets shown the door, try as he might now by jamming his big frame while the club owner attempts to shove him out. The Gunners are playing with flair too - but perhaps they are still trying to prove the doubters wrong after Henry left - how long can this momentum last though?

I say Sevilla will show the kids they still have some way to go before Van Persie gets to talk big.

Another Soccer Tragedy - R.I.P. Antonio Puerta, Sevilla

Antonio Puerta, the Sevilla player and Spain international, has passed away after having suffered 2 heart attacks in the weekend Primera Liga match. My condolences to his family and friends. It is always sad at a time like this and I do hope to see the game's authorities finding ways to prevent this.